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Charles Kenneth (Bud) Gunderson passed away on Monday, January 24, 2011. Bud was born in Albuquerque, NM. At the time his parents lived in New Laguna, NM where his father managed a general mercantile store. At age 4 he moved with his family to Grants, NM where his father bought an interest in the Bond Sargent Company, a mercantile company founded in 1915. Bud attended Grants Elementary School where very few of the students spoke English so he gained a working knowledge of Spanish. He graduated from Grants Union High School in 1940, attended the University of New Mexico from 1940 - 44. He was a member of Vigilantes Sophomore Men's Honorary, Khatali Senior Men's Honorary, Sigma Chi social fraternity and Sigma Tau Engineering Honorary fraternity. He was elected Student Body President his senior year. He graduated in 1944 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He was a life member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and became a Registered Professional Engineer in 1950. After graduation Bud worked at the UNM Physics Department research lab for a year. During this time he and Barbara Davis, his college sweetheart and subsequently wife of 66 years were married after meeting at UNM. He entered the US Navy in 1945, was sent to Cornell University Midshipman School doing officer candidate training work and then served as Chief Engineer on a Navy Fleet Tanker in the South Pacific until 1946. After he left the Navy he and Barbara returned to Grants and he entered the family business with his father, Carroll Gunderson. His brother Ray joined the business in 1950 and the three aggressively expanded the petroleum division and other segments of the organization for many years. They bought out the other owners of the corporation in 1950. In 1956 they built the first cable television system in Grants which is still operated by Comcast. The Interstate highway was under construction and Bud and Ray aggressively bought land on the interchanges and built retail outlets. The uranium boom beginning in the 1950's caused a great sudden growth in the business. The increases were very noticeable in the petroleum area and required a prompt expansion of facilities. They built the First "Mini-Storage" facility in the Grants area. Bud served as a director of the UNM Foundation, the Continental Divide Electric CoOp and the Cibola Foundation for several years and was a member of the Newcomen Society of New Mexico. He was a member of the American Legion and a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In the midst of all of these activities Bud lost his partner Ray in 1975. His death came as a shock to the entire community. After Ray's death his daughter, Cheryl and her husband, Ronny Pynes returned to Grants and jointed Barbara, Bud and Ray's widow, Connie in the operation of the business, a combination which worked very well. They sold the Chevron petroleum division of the business in 2004 after 76 years as Chevron distributors. Bud was predeceased by his parents, Carroll and Frieda Gunderson and his brother, Ray. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; niece, Cheryl and husband, Ronny Pynes of Grants; niece, Marianne and husband, Charles Cooper of Tonto Verde, AZ; two nieces and three nephews from California, and eight grand nephews and nieces. Donations in memory of C. K. Gunderson can be made to First Presbyterian Church of Grants, P. O. Box 396, Grants, NM 87020 or the charity of your choice. Service will be held on Saturday, January 29, 2011, 2:00 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church of Grants. Interment to follow at Grants Memorial Park. Bud's feeling was . . . "God was always with Him". Please visit the online guestbook for Mr. Gunderson at: www.RememberTheirStory.com. FRENCH 1111 University Blvd. NE (505) 843-6333
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